Molding mechanism



March 29,l 1932. Wi H BAYNARD l,850,999

MOLDING MECHAN I SM Fild July 6. 1928 Mib/@JMW Patented Mar. 29, 1932 -UNiTED STATESv PATENT oFF-ics WILLIAM E. BAYNARD, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSIGNOR' TOQHItY BECKTVITH, OF BROOKLNE, MASSACHUSETTS v nonnina 1vrncHANIsM Application led July 6, 1928. Serial No. 290,853.

In the application for patent of Harry H. Beckwith Serial No. 290,310 filed July 5, 1928 for method of treating` .counter portions of shoes, is disclosed and' claimed the molding of the counter portion of a shoe directly to the foot of the wearer, the counter having a stiifener which maybe temporarily softened for the molding operation after which it is permitted to rigidify.

The present invention relates to avdevice particularly designed forelfecting the moldingoperationin accordance with the Beckwith process, although some or all of its novel features might be found useful inrother relaf, tions and for diiierent purposes. To these ends the device comprises a frame shaped to receive the heel and shank portionof a shoe while on .the wearers foot Vand having yieldable means which may be made to press the counter portion of the shoe intomolding engagement withl the foot. n

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which j Y Figure l is a top plan of oneform of the device shown in condition to receive a shoe.

Figure 2 is a detail section yon line 2 2 of f Figure l.

-a shoe is being molded to the foot.

Figure 3 is a side elevationof the device. j Figure 4 is adetail'section on line of Figure .3. Y

Figure 5 is a section on 3, but showing the position of the line 5 5 of Figure parts when Figure 6 is a side elevation of the device as applied to a shoeriftting stool,the position ofthe wea-rers foot being lines. j j Referring `to these iigures,the.device as f shown comprises a two part frame of generally U shape consisting of a pair of side members l` having their rear ends turned toward each .other as at 2 and fixed together adjustably .so that the-free ends or 'open portion .of i the frame may be adjusted to theV desired -width in accordance with the sizeof the footv which itis desired to mold. For the purpose of joining the sections in this manner, each is shown as provided with a rearwardly extending lug 4 adjacent its upper end into shown by dotted j thereto as at 8O maybe employed.

which :is fixed, as by threaded 'engagement therewith, an eye .5., These eyes are arranged with their axes at right angles to each other and they are connected together by .a link 6 having forked extremities also arranged at 55 right angles to each other which take about the eyes 5 and are pivoted thereto as by means of the pin 7 held in the forked portions land l passing through the eyes. In order Vthat the j frame parts may be adjusted for spacing andr 60 held in adjusting position, an additional means comprising a universal joint may also be provided. Such means isshown in detail in Figure 2. In the lowerportions of the members l are shown thumb screws 10 thread- 55 ,ed therethrough, the inner ends of these thumb screws having eyesll which are piv.- votedat right angles to each other to an inter-' mediate connecting link 12 bifurcatedat its ends, the bifurcations at. opposite ends being v7o at right angles to each other and straddling ,the eyes and being pivoted thereto as by means of the pivot pins 14. By turning neither or both of the thumb screws as by-means .of their knurledheads l5, the spacing be- 'le tween .the members at their open ends may be adjusted, theuniversal joint permitting the change of angularity of thesecmembers l `:as they are so adjusted withoutcausing binding of theadjusting means.- so

As shown, the rear closed end portion .of the frame carries a cushion member 2O which may lwell be made vof sponge rubber. AEngaging within the hollow forward. portion of this cushionmember is av rear bent intermediate 35 portion 2l of an inflatable tube 22.' This `tube may well be a piece ofinner tube such as :is commonly used for automobile tires. The forward ends of this tube 22 are closed off,

and are fixed in any suitable way, as by '.90 iamping strips` 24 secured by screws 25,

to the members l adjacent to their forward eX- v tremities and thus form an in'fiatable cushion member. For the purpose of inflating and' deiating This valve connection may be ofthe typecommonly `einployed for automobiles tires' andv lis Vshown .as extended through thermal' port-ion 'of the fraine l thrcughthe `cuebien 2,0.and into the 190,

this member a' valvcd connection@ inflated from forcing the shoe out tube in the usual manner, rl`his valve means acts to retain the cushion 20 between the portions l of the frame.

n order that the customer may see that the counter is being molded to the foot by pressure, it is preferable to include inthe valve connection 30 a pressure gage 31. At 32 is shown the threaded connection having the valve stein-33 projecting therefrom, this connection being preferably such as is ordinarily used for the ready attachment Vand detach- 'inent of a suitable inflating device such as an ordinary tire pump. At is shown a stop member which may be arranged forwardly of the heel of the shoe so as to prevent the pressure exerted on the shoe when the tube 22 is from between the members l.

As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the frame member may be designed to be supported on the ordinary fitting stool shown at i0 in Figure 6, and where it is used in connection with high heeled shoes, such as are commonly worn by women, the rear end portions of the members l may be downwardly extended to form feet il which may rest on the upper face of the stool i() forwardly of the usual flange 4-2 thereon which acts to hold the frame from slipping off the stool. At the forward end the members l are shown as provided with shorter feet 43 and to one of these may be adjustably fixed the stop 35 hereinbefore referred to. rlhese feet Lll and 43 act to position the upper portions of the members l to which the tube 22 and the cushion 2O are attached along the counter portion of the shoe, so that when the tube 22 is inflated-it surrounds the counter portion of the shoe and presses it yieldingly to the contour of the foot within the shoe, particularly the contour over the oscalsis and astragalus bones of the foot where ill fitting of the counter portion of the shoe is liable to produce discomfort to the wearer. The cushion 2O acts as a cushioning reinforce for the intermediate portion of the inflatable tube 22 and prevents it from dropping out of its'proper position about the shoe and seems to improve the molding action. The position of the tube and cushion material when the device is in use is shown in Figure 5. T he inflatable tube when in inflated condition forms a cushion which conforms to the shoe with a uniform pressure over a considerable area so as to properly conform the shoe to the foot with uniform pressure regardless of surface irregularities thereof. Y

A preferred embodiment of this invention having been described, it should be understood that various changes and modifications might be made therein without from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1'. A deviceV of the class departing described compris-V innr a frame within which the rear portion of a shoe while on the foot may be placed, means for holding the shoe in such position, and an expansible cushion within said frame in position to press the counter portion of the shoe against and conform it to the wearers foot when said cushion is expanded.

2. A device of the class described comprising a U-shaped frame, an inflatable tube having its end portions closed and fixed to opposite sides of said frame, its central portion extending toward and within the closed end of said frame, and valved means through which air may be forced into or allowed to esca ie from said tube.

3. A device of the class described comprising a two part generally U shaped frame, means for adjustably fixing said parts together at the closed end of said frame to permit adjustment of the spacing of the open ends thereof, and an inflatable cushion extending from and between said open ends toward said closed end.

4. A device of the class described comprising a U-shaped frame within which the counter portion of a shoe on the wearers foot may be placed, an inflatable cushion between said frame and said counter portion, inflation of said cushion pressing said counter portion about the foot, and means for holding said shoe in position within said frame.

5. A device of the class described comprising a U shaped frame between the sides of' which may be placed the rear portion of a shoe while on the foot, cushion material within said frame at its closed end, and a section of inflatable tube having its ends closed and fixed to opposite sides of said frame at its open end and passing about the sides and heel end of the shoe, its intermediate portion bearing on said cushion material, valved means through which said tube may be iniated and deflated, and means for holding said shoe within said frame.

6.V A device of the class described comprising a two part U shaped frame, means including a universal joint lfor fixing said parts together with capability of adjustment of the spacing of their free ends, and means including a universal oint for adjusting said parts to-determine said spacing.

7 A device of the class described comprising a frame within which the rear portion of a shoe while on the foot may be placed,

means for holding the shoe in said frame, 1

and a cushion within said frame conformable to the shoe, said device having means for facilitating pressing said cushion against the shoe with sufficient force to conform the shoe to the wearers foot.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

`WILLIAM n. BAYNARD. j 

